Reframing Overtourism in Transitioning Western Balkan Destinations: Does Destination Context Matter?

This paper explores overtourism in the transitioning states of the Western Balkans through an exploratory qualitative multiple-case study. Using purposive sampling, data were collected through 120 semi-structured interviews with key local stakeholders, including residents, tourism employees, and institutional representatives from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, and Slovenia. The study examines the socio-economic, ecological, and political dimensions of overtourism across urban, cultural, religious, festival, and protected natural destinations. Thematic analysis revealed that excessive tourist inflows are primarily driven by uncontrolled tourism growth, weak institutional capacity, and limited community participation in destination governance. Issues such as gentrification, festival commercialisation, and increasing pressure on protected areas highlight significant differences between destinations with effective management systems and those lacking strategic governance. The study introduces the concept of political-institutional vulnerability as a key factor amplifying overtourism in post-socialist societies and proposes policy recommendations focused on inclusive governance, equitable distribution of tourism benefits, and alignment with sustainable development principles. By linking global debates with the specific realities of transition economies, the study provides an analytical framework for understanding overtourism in the Western Balkans and offers a foundation for comparative research in other transitional regions.